A 500-kilovolt (kV) transmission network is in the pipeline to support the capacity expansion of power plants as the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has set aside P17.9 billion for the planned expansion.

The project aims to support the generated capacity of the Redondo Peninsula Energy’s proposed 600 MW coal-fired power plant at the Subic freeport zone in Zambales, according to the transmission firm.

“The first stage of the project will involve the construction of the Castillejos-Hermosa 500kV transmission and will be connected to the new Hermosa substation,” NGCP said as quoted in a Manila Bulletin report.

This project would require a P1.34 billion investment and is targeted to be finished by second quarter of 2020.

The second phase of the project will be the construction of new Castillejos and Bolo substations with the blueprinted 550-kV Castillejos-Bolo transmission line and is set to operate in 2025.

The network expansion project in Western Luzon will also include projects that will support the injection of capacity from other power projects.

This included the planned 500-kV Mariveles-Hermosa and San Jose transmission line projects, as well as the 69-kW Hermosa-Floridablanca transmission line facility, worth P10.28 billion and P5.94 billion respectively.

NGCP explained that the Mariveles-Hermosa line will service around 2,836 MW capacity from power plants of GN Power and the SMC Consolidated Power coal-fired power ventures, along with the project being led by Korea Electric Power Corporation.

“The project entails the construction of a new Mariveles substation, along with the transmission line,” NGCP emphasized.

“All of these projects in the western part of Luzon are critical in the stability and reliability of the transmission system in the near future,” it added.

NGCP said these transmission projects were previously certified as projects of national significance by the Department of Energy (DOE).